The prevention
Because the causes of breast cancer are not fully understood, it is not known whether it can be completely prevented.
Some treatments are available to reduce the risk in women who are at higher risk of developing the condition than the general population.
Diet and lifestyle
Regular exercise and a healthy, balanced diet are recommended for all women because they can help prevent many ailments, including heart disease, diabetes and many forms of cancer.
Studies have looked at the link between breast cancer and nutrition, and although there are no definitive conclusions, there are benefits for women who:
maintain a healthy weight
practice regularly
have a low intake of saturated fat and alcohol
Use healthy weight calculator to check if you have a healthy weight.
It has also been suggested that regular exercise can reduce your risk of developing breast cancer by as much as a third.
If you have experienced menopause, it is especially important that you are not overweight or obese. This is because these conditions cause more estrogen to be produced by your body, which may increase the risk of breast cancer.
Breastfeeding
Studies have shown that breastfeeding women are statistically less likely to develop breast cancer than breastfeeding women.
The reasons are not fully understood, but it may be because women do not ovulate as regularly as they breastfeed and the estrogen levels remain stable.
Treatments to reduce your risk
If you have an increased risk of developing breast cancer, there is a treatment to reduce your risk.
Your level of risk is determined by factors such as your age, your family's medical history and the results of genetic tests.
You are usually referred to a specialized genetics service if you think you have an increased risk of breast cancer. Healthcare professionals working in these services should discuss treatment options with you.
The two main treatments are operations to remove the breasts (mastectomy) or medication. These are described in more detail below.
mastectomy
A mastectomy is an operation to remove the breasts. It can be used to treat breast cancer and can reduce the risk of developing the disorder in the small number of women from high-risk families.
By removing as much breast tissue as possible, a mastectomy can reduce your risk of breast cancer by up to 90%.
As with all operations, however, there is a risk of complications and if your breasts are removed, this can have a significant effect on your body image and sexual relationships.
If you wish, you can usually opt for a breast reconstruction, either during the mastectomy surgery or at a later time.
During breast reconstruction operations, your original breast shape is re-created using breast implants or tissue from elsewhere in your body.
An alternative is to use breast prostheses. These are artificial breasts that can be worn in your bra.
An alternative to mastectomy is a nipple-sparing breast amputation, in which the entire mammary gland is removed, but the skin envelope is retained. This is not generally available at the moment, but it is used more often and can achieve excellent results.
Read more about your body and your breasts after the treatment.
medicine
Three medicines are available on the NHS for women with an increased risk of breast cancer:
tamoxifen - for women who have or have not undergone menopause
anastrozole - for women who have undergone menopause
raloxifene - for women who have undergone menopause
These medicines are usually taken five times a day. They can reduce your risk of breast cancer while you use them and possibly for a few years afterwards.
Side effects of these medicines may include:
hot flashes
to sweat
to feel sick
fatigue
leg cramps
There is also a small risk of more serious problems such as weak bones (osteoporosis), blood clots or uterine cancer.
If your doctor suggests taking medication to reduce your risk of breast cancer, ask them about the benefits and risks of each medicine.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is paying more attention to drug therapy to reduce the risk of breast cancer.